Related Tags:

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — With pyrotechnics and snow in July, “Batman: The Dark Knight Rises” will transform Pittsburgh into Gotham City.

As a matter of fact, actor Christian Bale was in Market Square just last night.

In the whispery voice of Liam Neeson, the teaser movie trailer tells us, “Every hero has a journey.”

That journey left its imprint on Fifth Avenue Place last night.

“It’s very exciting to me to be filming here, filming the streets of downtown Pittsburgh for the next month,” director Christopher Nolan said.

British actor Christian Bale, the man who wears the cape in the “Batman” trilogy is here.

“I’ve never been in Pittsburgh before – really looking forward to filming in your city,” he said.

From his Academy Award-winning performance in “The Fighter” to gaining 100 pounds of muscle to play the role in “Batman Begins,” Bale is a real chameleon and will don his rubber suit despite the heat.

“We’ll try and stay out of your hair as much as possible and hopefully leave with good memories for everybody,” Bale said.

Bale, Nolan, and producers Emma Thomas and Kevin De La Noy were surrounded by fans Governor Tom Corbett who fancies himself a crime fighter, County Executive Dan Onorato and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Nolan scouted the city himself, obviously liking what he saw.

“I think the architecture of this city is a very beautiful city on a very impressive scale,” he told reporters.

Shooting schedules are very hush-hush, but look for film production trucks in Lawrenceville, Oakland, downtown with a faux snowfall and a cast of thousands at Gotham Stadium, aka Heinz Field.

Thomas stated the obvious.

“I hope you’ll enjoy watching your city on the big screen next summer,” she said.

We’re ready for our close up.

Over the next few weeks, be on the lookout for famous faces on city streets. Aside from Christian Bale – possibly Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Tom Hardy and many more.